Post Graduate Diploma in Business Administration
Midrand, South Africa
DURATION
1 up to 2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
31 Jan 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
28 Feb 2025
TUITION FEES
ZAR 8,419 / per course
STUDY FORMAT
Blended
Introduction
The qualification is intended for students who hold a Bachelor’s degree and are occupying managerial positions in the field of business. The rationale of the Postgraduate Diploma is to bring the knowledge and business understanding of these students on par before proceeding with a Master’s degree in Business Administration or Business Leadership.
The careful selection of the modules for the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration makes it an interdisciplinary programme that better prepares students to function efficiently as managers of businesses. All modules are compulsory. There are no elective modules in the programme for this qualification.
This qualification is intended to contribute positively to the development of skilled, competent, efficient and value-adding managers of business. In offering qualifications in management practice, South Africa (and other countries) is provided with people who can understand the constructive role they need to play as managers, leaders and business specialists in their specific areas of knowledge and who are empowered to play that role. Efficiently managed businesses will contribute positively to the economy of the country and the continent.
The purpose of the qualification is to empower learners with the necessary competencies (knowledge, values and skills) to analyse, synthesise and apply relevant information within business organisations. Relevant information refers to economics in making informed business decisions; stakeholders for business alignment based on stakeholder needs; value chains for integrating value to be achieved; and financial statements for financial analyses and decision-making. The analysing, synthesising and application imply structuring and putting information together for purposes of decision-making and decision implementation. It goes hand in hand with conceptual, entrepreneurial and rejuvenating thinking, personal growth, developing insight and foresight and the development and application of leadership skills in workplace and societal situations. With well-established competencies learners contribute towards developing high-performance businesses for the well-being of communities and societies. The programme also provides an opportunity for participants to integrate knowledge from various functional areas in their practice through the relevant module.
This professional post-graduate diploma will be presented using a blended learning mode. It will make use of online learning technologies and material, group work, printed material and both face-to-face and virtual contact with students and student groups.
Ideal Students
Who must apply?
- Everyone wanting to start a new qualification and/or a new specialisation/stream must apply for admission.
- Applicants in their final year of study towards an undergraduate qualification must apply for admission.
- Applicants who wish to be considered via the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process, must apply for admission to their qualification of choice and use the "decline letter" to commence with their application via the RPL office.
Admissions
Curriculum
The Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration (PGD BA) offered by the SBL is presented in two tracts: Track One is a structured one-year programme comprising two semesters. Track Two is an extended two-year programme comprising four semesters.
Track One (1 Year Programme)
Students MUST register for five compulsory modules in the first semester and four compulsory modules in the second semester.
The five modules offered in Semester 1 are a prerequisite to the Integrated Management Practice module. It is important to note that students who do not complete all the Semester 1 modules, will NOT be allowed to register for the Integrated Management Practice module.
Semester 1
Economics for Managers (PBA 4801)
Upon completion of this module, students will be able to explain economic phenomena that influence business organisations. They will be able to predict the effect of changes in economic variables; analyse the impact of economic changes on specific business organisations; and revise business decisions by monitoring changes in economic phenomena.
Value Chain Management (PBA 4805)
The effective management of the value chain as a system is vital for continual upgrading and improvement. Students who complete this module will be able to manage value chains for effective organisational functioning.
Leadership and Organisational Behaviour (PBA 4806)
Students who complete this module will be able to lead and manage individuals and teams and contribute to effective leadership within organisations. They will gain knowledge, values, attitudes, skills and competencies that will enable them to analyse and solve problems related to current leadership challenges in the workplace.
Accounting for Managers (PBA 4807)
The Accounting for Managers module aims to enable successful students to interpret and evaluate different types of financial reports; read and analyse financial statements; understand the capital budgeting process and evaluate a company’s management of working capital. They will further be able to evaluate costing and product-pricing decisions; and evaluate the budgeting process of an organisation.
Information and Knowledge Management (PBA 4808)
Once a student has passed this module, they will be able to evaluate the various acquisition methods of data, information and knowledge. Successful candidates will further be able to evaluate the management information and knowledge management systems; explain and evaluate information technology strategy, as well as manage various decision support systems and competitive intelligence tools.
Semester 2
Global Business Environment (PBA 4802)
Successful completion of the Global Business Environment module will enable students to analyse the global business environment to make informed business decisions. They will be able to integrate closed and open systems thinking; evaluate global business opportunities for purposes of decision-making and design solutions for cross-border business relationships.
Stakeholder Management (PBA 4803)
The Stakeholder Management module aims to enable successful candidates to gather, interpret and synthesise information for stakeholder group decision-making. They will be able to explain the influence of various contemporary theoretical perspectives on managing stakeholders; discuss the key institutional and legal frameworks that influence stakeholder group relations and access the relationships between organisations and stakeholder groups. They will also be able to incorporate stakeholder group issues and expectations into business decision-making.
Decision Support Systems for Managers (PBA 4804)
Creativity and innovation play a vital role in the decision-making process. Successful candidates will not only be able to explain the importance of creativity and innovation but also the art and context of decision-making in business organisations. They will also be able to evaluate the impact and consequences of decision-making in business organisations, as well as apply quantitative and qualitative techniques to improve decision-making.
Integrated Management Practice (PBA 4809)
Students who complete this module will be able to synthesise and integrate the eight discipline-based modules of the PGD BA. They will be able to determine the information that is required of the operating environment of an organisation to make well-informed decisions. Students will have to synthesise and integrate cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills.
Track Two (2-year Programme)
Students MUST register for three compulsory modules in year one, semester one (Y1/S1), and two compulsory modules in year one, semester two (Y1/S2). In year two semester one (Y2/S1) students MUST register for two compulsory modules, and two compulsory modules in year two semester two (Y2/S2).
Year 1: Semester 1
Economics for Managers (PBA 4801)
Upon completion of this module, students will be able to explain economic phenomena that influence business organisations. They will be able to predict the effect of changes in economic variables; analyse the impact of economic changes on specific business organisations; and revise business decisions by monitoring changes in economic phenomena.
Accounting for Managers (PBA 4807)
The Accounting for Managers module aims to enable successful students to interpret and evaluate different types of financial reports; read and analyse financial statements; understand the capital budgeting process and evaluate a company’s management of working capital. They will further be able to evaluate costing and product-pricing decisions; and evaluate the budgeting process of an organisation.
Information and Knowledge Management (PBA 4808)
Once a student has passed this module, they will be able to evaluate the various acquisition methods of data, information and knowledge. Successful candidates will further be able to evaluate the management information and knowledge management systems; explain and evaluate information technology strategy, as well as manage various decision support
Year 1: Semester 2
Stakeholder Management (PBA 4803)
The Stakeholder Management module aims to enable successful candidates to gather, interpret and synthesise information for stakeholder group decision-making. They will be able to explain the influence of various contemporary theoretical perspectives on managing stakeholders; discuss the key institutional and legal frameworks that influence stakeholder group relations and access the relationships between organisations and stakeholder groups. They will also be able to incorporate stakeholder group issues and expectations into business decision-making.
Decision Support Systems for Managers (PBA 4804)
Creativity and innovation play a vital role in the decision-making process. Successful candidates will not only be able to explain the importance of creativity and innovation but also the art and context of decision-making in business organisations. They will also be able to evaluate the impact and consequences of decision-making in business organisations, as well as apply quantitative and qualitative techniques to improve decision-making.
Year 2: Semester 1
Value Chain Management (PBA 4805)
The effective management of the value chain as a system is vital for continual upgrading and improvement. Students who complete this module will be able to manage value chains for effective organisational functioning.
Leadership and Organisational Behaviour (PBA 4806)
Students who complete this module will be able to lead and manage individuals and teams and contribute to effective leadership within organisations. They will gain knowledge, values, attitudes, skills and competencies that will enable them to analyse and solve problems related to current leadership challenges in the workplace.
Year 2: Semester 2
Global Business Environment (PBA 4802)
Successful completion of the Global Business Environment module will enable students to analyse the global business environment to make informed business decisions. They will be able to integrate closed and open systems thinking; evaluate global business opportunities for purposes of decision-making and design solutions for cross-border business relationships.
Integrated Management Practice (PBA 4809)
Students who complete this module will be able to synthesise and integrate the eight discipline-based modules of the PGD BA. They will be able to determine the information that is required of the operating environment of an organisation to make well-informed decisions. Students will have to synthesise and integrate cross-disciplinary knowledge and skills.
Completion of qualification
The PGD BA is offered as a one-year qualification OR a two-year qualification, depending on the track the student chooses. Students must register for all the modules required in the chosen track for the relevant academic year. All failed modules MUST be repeated in the year following the first year of registration.
Upon completion of the programme, a student will receive the Postgraduate Diploma in Business Administration, conferred by the University of South Africa.